Rumors Begin To Swirl That Roger Ailes Is Still Working At Fox

Rumors have been circulating over Roger Ailes’s position as Fox News CEO, and the recent allegations made against him. According to a Monday piece by New York Magazine, what began as an investigation into sexual harassment allegations has “expanded into a wide-ranging inquiry into Ailes’s controversial management style.”

Earlier this month, former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson brought a lawsuit against Ailes, claiming she was sexually harassed by the CEO and then wrongfully fired from the company. Fox claimed that the host’s low ratings were the reason for her firing.

On Tuesday, reports surfaced on The Drudge Report that Ailes had already resigned from his position and had a $40 million dollar separation agreement. Multiple media outlets confirmed this report, including Fox, although the company later said the report was premature. Fox News Channel’s parent company 21st Century Fox then released a statement announcing that, in fact, “Roger is at work. The review is ongoing. The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement.”

While an internal investigation into Ailes by the parent company is taking place, other sources claim high-profile Fox News host Megyn Kelly has also come out against Ailes for sexual harassment. According to reports from New York Magazine, Kelly alleges the harassment happened 10 years ago when she was a correspondent working out of Washington, D.C.

A representative for Ailes has strongly denied this claim.

Advertisement - story continues below

“Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly,” wrote Ailes’ attorney Susan Estrich in a statement. “In fact, he has spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her to achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him.”

Multiple outlets have reported that Fox owner Rupert Murdoch and his two sons want the CEO gone. Some reports say Ailes may serve Fox in some kind of consultant fashion, but New York Magazine reported he has until August 1 to resign.